2nd Young Scholars Pragmatism Conference: Inquiry, Science, Truth

Call for Abstracts –

University of Cambridge, 11-12 October 2021 –

Keynote speakers: Prof. Cheryl Misak (University of Toronto) and Prof. Hasok Chang (University of Cambridge) –

We invite submissions of abstracts for the second edition of the Young Scholars Pragmatism Conference. It will be a hybrid event with online and in-person talks (20-mn presentation / 35-mn discussion). 

While pragmatist ideas and methods are present in a great variety of academic fields and subfields, pragmatism started as a theory of meaning and inquiry (Peirce, James, Dewey), and became (in)famous as a theory of truth. This conference seeks to explore these fundamental themes running from the beginnings of pragmatism to the present. Possible topics for submission include (but are not limited to): 

  • Meanings and concepts: what are our concepts for? How should we construe the meaning of our terms? How are concepts formed, and how do they evolve? 
  • The theory of inquiry and scientific or logical methods: is there a scientific method? What is (or are) the method(s) of inquiry? How do we evaluate these methods? 
  • Scientific practice: what does the study of scientific practice teach us about traditional issues in philosophy of science and about the theory of inquiry?
  • Values: is there a fact/value dichotomy? What role do values, purposes and normative assessments play in epistemic practices? 
  • Truth and warranted assertibility: can truth be a goal of inquiry? How should it be defined? Can truth transcend experience or inquiry? 
  • (Anti-)realism and (anti-)representationalism: do ideas and theories purport to represent the world? How should global expressivists or anti-representationalists think about theories of inquiry and the philosophy of science?

We welcome presentations of various forms, such as: theoretical papers defending pragmatist accounts of X; historical, sociological or philosophical case studies from a pragmatist perspective; studies of classical pragmatist answers to contemporary problems in philosophy of science, epistemology, or philosophy of language; exploration of pragmatist themes present in the philosophy of science of non-(explicitly) pragmatist authors; critical assessments of the scope and limits of pragmatism. 

Submission guidelines:

  • Conditions for submission: graduate (masters and doctoral) students and early career scholars (up to 5 years after the completion of the PhD)
  • Word limit: 500 words
  • Format: PDF prepared for blind review
  • Include a separate document with your name, contact information, title of your abstract, and current academic position. You are also welcome to state your preference for presenting online or in person.
  • Deadline for submission: 15 May 2021
  • Notification of acceptance: 7 June 2021

Please send your documents to Céline Henne and Oscar Westerblad by 15th May 2021, with subject line “YSPC Abstract”.

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